Birthday trip out

Today is Compostman's Birthday - a significant one, for a number between 59 and 61! And it is also the last day of Compostgirl's Easter break - she goes back to school tomorrow and then launches into SAT's etc.

We decided to go out to celebrate for lunch and for a visit to one of the Hereford and Gloucester Canal Trust sites. We are members of the Canal Trust  and have been to a few of the more local sites over the years, but have never been in to the Wharf site at Over, near Gloucester - so that was where we decided to go.

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal follows an almost entirely rural course for 34 miles through the glorious countryside of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

This was one of the last major narrow canals to be completed in Britain.

From the River Severn at Over it ran level to Rudford Lock, the first of ten before reaching Oxenhall Tunnel – at 2192 yards one of the longest in England. Seven more locks brought the Canal through the delightful market town of Ledbury.

A ten mile summit pound, including another tunnel at Ashperton (400 yards) led to three locks eight miles from Hereford. An aqueduct over the River Lugg and the Aylestone Tunnel (440 yards) brought the Canal into the heart of Hereford.

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust is restoring the Canal as a navigable waterway, which, when completed, will rank as one of the most attractive cruising routes in the country.

The Trust have restored The Wharf and are currently restoring and rebuilding the last lock down to the River Severn. They have also restored The Wharf  House as a Restaurant and  luxury B & B. All profits made by The Wharf House are used for the promotion and restoration of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust. The Trust volunteers have done a fabulous job of the rebuilding and refurbishing - the building is really beautiful and the food was excellent.

After our lunch we went along and looked at the Wharf itself, which was very impressive.

The last lock down to the River Severn. Awaiting work! It is quite a drop down to The Severn level.

The birthday boy and daughter inspect a sign .

The Wharf House roof is fitted with 94 photovoltaic panels. This is part of The Hereford and Gloucestershire Canal Trust aims to become self-sustinable both financially and in its carbon footprint. This is the largest array of solar powered panels in Gloucestershire.

We timed our outing well as just after we finished our walk and went back to our car, it began to pour with rain!

Happy Birthday Compostman, I love you very much.